To:      Members of the University Community

 

From:  Karen Kavanagh, Executive Vice President for Administrative Affairs

Date:   February 18, 2004

 

Re:      Commencement 2004

 

      Commencement is the greatest day of the academic year for us, a time of celebration and pride for our new graduates, their friends and families, and the entire Rutgers community. Over the years, as the University has grown and evolved, we have marked Commencement in different ways. In the modern era graduation ceremonies have been held on Voorhees Mall, at Rutgers Stadium, and, most recently, in the Louis Brown Athletic Center. This year we will be following a special procedure, and everyone working on the College Avenue Campus has a role to play in making Commencement 2004 a success. On that day, Thursday, May 20, Commencement ceremonies will be held on Voorhees Mall in the morning and the Rutgers College graduation convocation will be held in the same location that afternoon. We are expecting record-setting attendance at both events.

 

      With so many guests coming to campus for this special day, parking is a very special concern. Therefore, in order to help Commencement and the Rutgers College ceremonies proceed as smoothly as possible for our graduates and guests, all Rutgers faculty, staff, and students who normally park their cars on the College Avenue campus will be required to park that day on the Busch campus at the stadium parking lot. Shuttle buses will be running all day long every 15 minutes from early in the morning to late in the evening to bring employees to the College Avenue campus for the start of the work day and return them to the Busch campus after work. In appreciation of your cooperation on this special day, coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for you in the parking lot on the Busch campus, and each of you will receive a gift certificate to the Rutgers University Bookstore.  

 

      We do not expect to have both the University Commencement and the Rutgers College convocation on the same day in future years and we apologize for the inconvenience this year.   Additional information about specific arrangements for Commencement Day will be provided later in the semester. Any questions about parking on Commencement day should be directed through your department director or dean to Leslie Fehrenbach, at Fehrenbach@oldqueens.rutgers.edu or 732.932.1352.

 

      Rutgers takes great pride in its sense of family and community. This year we again have an opportunity to showcase our University at its best, and I thank you for your help, understanding, and cooperation.